Press Release
Ujima Inc. Awards $5.2M Nationwide in Grants for Culturally Specific Programs to Support Black Survivors
[Washington, D.C., January 18, 2023] — After a nationwide call for applications, Ujima Inc., The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community announces the awarding of $5.2 million in funding to 20 culturally specific organizations developed by and for the Black community that support Black women and girls who are survivors of domestic violence. Each grant recipient will receive $275k in total funding for two and a half years.
Ujima Inc. Board President Jamien Jordan said, “The Board of Directors of Ujima Inc. is honored that our organization is able to support these incredible organizations serving the Black survivors of domestic violence. Ujima Inc. was built on the values of collective work and responsibility and the culturally specific American Rescue Plan funding has allowed us to support organizations that are on the ground, in communities, and meeting the needs of survivors every day.”
The grant award is funded by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) and the American Rescue Plan (ARP), allowing Ujima Inc. to increase program access to services and address the intersection of COVID-19 and domestic violence affecting the Black community.
On October 28, 2021, HHS awarded $49.5 million in ARP supplemental funding to support community-based organizations to provide culturally specific activities for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence to address emergent needs resulting from the public health emergency.
“Ujima Inc. is proud to support these 20 organizations that are providing critical lifesaving supports to Black survivors of domestic violence across the nation. We applaud President Joe Biden, Congress, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA) Office for making these funds available and look forward to continuing to ensure that Black survivors have access to resources that are developed by and for our community,” said Ujima Inc. Chief Executive Officer Karma Cottman.
The subrecipient organizations will receive technical assistance and will be awarded to:
- Increase Black victims and survivors’ access to domestic and sexual violence services and to reduce the exposure and risk of COVID-19;
- Promote strategic partnership development and collaboration in responding to public health concerns for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence; and
- Use grant funds to target, support, and assist populations consisting of sexual assault and domestic violence survivors in the Black community.
“The COVID-19 pandemic underscored what we have long understood, that our community has historically been under-resourced and underfunded. We received more than 100 applications from culturally specific organizations serving the Black community that are not just talking about working on behalf of survivors, these organizations are doing it – and in the language and culture that resonates with the survivors they serve,” said Cottman. “They are providing services to survivors at their most critical time, 365 days per year and 24 hours per day. During the pandemic, we saw these organizations expand to meet the needs of survivors that had no place to turn. These funds will not only help to maintain these critical services but will allow us to invest in expanding the infrastructure of these organizations to meet the growing demand.”
“We are committed to eliminating barriers that domestic violence and sexual assault survivors face as they reach out for safety and support in their communities. Historic investments to increase comprehensive services for survivors in diverse racial and ethnic communities is part of our commitment to ensuring that all survivors can access culturally relevant services that reflect a deep understanding of historical trauma,” stated January Contreras, ACF Assistant Secretary.
“The FVPSA Program welcomes Congress’ increased investments in FVPSA programs for underserved communities; for far too long communities of color have been underfunded despite the disproportionate levels of violence and health disparities impeding positive outcomes for millions of adults, children, and youth surviving violence every day. An expanded public health response to domestic violence and sexual assault are needed now more than ever as communities, health care systems, and social service agencies increase their commitments for violence prevention for all people including historically underserved racial and ethnic specific communities. The FVPSA Program remains committed to its support of the community-based, culturally specific, and trauma informed services for all and is proud of the positive impact its grantees are having on the lives of Black survivors and their families by making them feel safer and more supported,” stated Shawndell Dawson, FVPSA Director.
About FVPSA
Since 1984, the FVPSA Program has been an integral part of our nation’s public health response to domestic violence by providing funding, oversight, training, technical assistance, and guidance to emergency shelters, crisis hotlines, prevention programs, specialized resource centers, and a wide-range of federal, state, local and tribal partners across the United States. By addressing domestic violence as a public health epidemic, FVPSA’s reach is broad and changes lives. Each year, FVPSA-funded state and tribal programs serve more than 1.3 million victims and their dependents and respond to 2.7 million crisis calls; with these supplemental funds, FVPSA grant programs will be able to provide critical supports to even more families all across the country.
For more information on the ARP-FVPSA funding visit, https://www.acf.hhs.gov/fysb/policy-guidance/2021-fvpsa-495-million-american-rescue-plan-support-survivors-domestic. More information about the program can be found at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/fysb/programs/fvpsa.
Please contact Ujima Inc. for any questions: applications@ujimacommunity.org
Click here for BCP ARP grantee organizational summaries.
Press Release
Ujima Inc. Opens Grant Applications for Culturally Specific Programs
to Support Black Survivors
[Washington, D.C. August 30, 2022] Ujima Inc., The National Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community is excited to announce a national call for applications totaling $5.2 million in funding to Black organizations that support Black survivors of domestic violence.
Ujima Inc.’s mission is to mobilize the community to respond to and end domestic, sexual and community violence in the Black community and serves as a resource to survivors of violence, advocates and service providers, and the community-at-large. The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Grant allow Ujima Inc. to increase culturally specific program access to services and reduce COVID-19 risk and exposure.
“For too long, domestic violence programs, that service women and children of color, have struggled to get the support and resources they need,” said Ujima Inc.’s Executive Director Karma Cottman. “This granting opportunity has the potential to increase access to services for millions of women and children of color who continue to be disproportionately impacted by domestic violence and the impacts of COVID-19.”
During the call for applications information session, organizations will learn about the grant program overview, application submission process, application requirements, building an organizational budget and narrative, and award conditions and program monitoring. Applicants can join Ujima Inc.’s mailing list at www.ujimacommunity.org or follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more information. To access the Application Portal Link/RFA, click here.
Through HHS and ARP, Ujima Inc. will award 17 non-profit grantee organizations with funding for three years to:
- Increase Black victims and survivors’ access to domestic and sexual violence services and to reduce the exposure and risk of COVID-19
- Promote strategic partnership development and collaboration in responding to public health concerns for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence
- Use grant funds to target, support, and assist populations consisting of sexual assault and domestic violence survivors in the Black community
“The impact of COVID on our communities was and continues to be undeniable and linked to longstanding inequities in our communities,” said Cottman. “We are grateful to HHS, the Biden Administration, and The American Rescue Plan for ensuring access to this important investment.”
